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b'READ: ROMANS 6:4-11; COLOSSIANS 3:1-4\\n\\n\\n\\nDo you have a favorite book or movie that you like to read or watch over and over? Do you ever find yourself wishing you were part of the story? It can be fun to get wrapped up in a good story and imagine ourselves in it. And let\\u2019s not forget the epic story we\\u2019re already part of\\u2014the story of how Jesus saved the world from sin and death and how He will one day make everything right. That story is real, and it\\u2019s the greatest story of all.\\n\\n\\n\\nTo understand where we are in this massive story, it can help to think about it in four main parts: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. In the beginning, God created all things good\\u2014including us. But at the fall, when humanity rejected God to go our own way, sin and brokenness came into the world and fractured God\\u2019s creation in deep ways. God was heartbroken, yet His love for us and for the rest of His creation was undaunted. He was determined to bring about redemption so His people could be near Him, and all creation could be made whole once again. The way He brought this redemption is the climax of the story: Jesus, who is God the Son, came and lived among us. When Jesus willingly died on the cross, He conquered sin. And when He rose from the dead, He vanquished death, so everyone who trusts in Him could have eternal life.\\n\\n\\n\\nNow, we live as forgiven people in this in-between space after Jesus has come the first time, before He comes again. We\\u2019re looking forward to the final restoration Jesus will bring when He returns, raises us from the dead, rights every wrong, and heals every brokenness. And as we wait, we have purposeful work to do. God invites us to join with Him in sharing the good news of His great story, all the while bringing restoration to the areas of brokenness we find around us.\\n\\n\\n\\nIt\\u2019s amazing that we are part of God\\u2019s story, and that it\\u2019s all true. It\\u2019s not a story about made-up characters\\u2014Jesus is real, and His story is our story. When things are looking bleak, we can remember how the story ends: with Jesus getting rid of sin forever and making the whole world new. In a way, every story connects to this great one, echoing themes like betrayal, rescue, self-sacrifice, true love, and beautiful restoration. As we face the ups and downs of life in a broken world, we can take comfort in knowing that God\\u2019s story has the best ending of all. \\u2022 A. W. Smith\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 Have you ever thought of your life as part of God\\u2019s epic story? How could this truth give us comfort and purpose through good times and bad? (For more about God\\u2019s story, see our "Know Jesus" page.)\\n\\n\\n\\nSince we have been united with him [Jesus] in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. Romans 6:5 (NLT)'